Bob Kabel represents clients in Washington on legislative and regulatory issues. Internationally, he represents clients interested in establishing and expanding their presence in Brazil, Mexico, and other countries in Latin America.

In Washington, he works primarily with companies in the financial services industry to shape legislation and regulations to meet their specific needs. He was actively engaged in the development of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act that will have a major impact on every aspect of the financial services industry. Having worked with all of the federal financial regulatory agencies during his career, he is well positioned to represent clients on the significant number of regulatory projects and studies mandated by this legislation. 

Examples where he has helped clients achieve their goals include:

• For a coalition of the private equity subsidiaries of major bank holding companies, he worked with key leaders in Congress to add provisions to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to give these subsidiaries equal footing in the marketplace with independent private equity firms.
• For a major small business lender, he worked with Congress to change existing law to provide for a more favorable secondary market for SBA 7 (A) loans, both the guaranteed and unguaranteed parts, and to fully fund the demand for 7 (A) loans.
• For a major professional appraisal association, he developed and executed a strategy to enact legislation to require states to establish more rigorous standards for real estate appraisers.
• For the two state-based insurance guaranty organizations, he developed a program to educate members of Congress, Congressional staff and key administration officials and insurance trade associations on how the state-based system works and developed strategies to protect the systems from attacks.  

In Brazil, he was instrumental in the extension of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program for trade with Brazil which permitted American companies to import product duty free from Brazil. Through partnerships with an established network of local professionals, he is able to combine his services with media relations and other consulting services for the most impact.

In Mexico, he has worked to create corporate health councils to address specific concerns such as chronic diseases. 

Prior to private law practice and consulting, he spent several years on Capitol Hill. During the Reagan Administration, he served for three years as Special Assistant to President Reagan for Legislative Affairs. In this position, he represented the White House before the United States Senate. He also served as Legislative Director for Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN), as well as Legislative Assistant to Senator Paul Fannin (R-AZ).

Government Service

• White House Office of Legislative Affairs, 1982-85
• Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN)
• Sen. Paul Fannin (R-AZ)
• Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, Part-Time Member, 1988-90
• Presidential Advisory Council on HIV-AIDS, 2006-09

Publications

• "An Open Letter to U.S. Businesses on Opportunities in Brazil," B&D Consulting website, December 2010
• "Investment Opportunities in Brazil's Aviation Sector," B&D Consulting Market Study, March 2010
• "Ethanol Trade: Opportunities and Challenges," Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce — Brazil Business Report, Vol. 42, No. 1
• International Trade Column, Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce — News Bulletin, July/August 2006

Presentations

• "New Buy Brazil Procurement Law: What It Means for Your Business," Webinar, March 2011
• "Brazil's Presidential Elections Briefing," Washington, D.C., September 2010
• "Investment Opportunities in Brazil's Aviation Sector," Inter-American Bar Association Annual Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, June 2010

Civic Activities

• District of Columbia Republican Committee — Chairman, 2004-present; Vice Chairman, 2001-04

Board Memberships

• Denison University — Board of Trustees, 1999-2006
• Vanderbilt University Law School — Alumni Board, 1997-99
• Log Cabin Republicans — Board Chairman, 1994-99
• Liberty Education Forum — Chairman, 1999-2004

Professional Associations

• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Republican National Lawyers Association
• Federalist Society